Scrubber



March 8,1927.

1,620,591 N. B. BRALY SCRUBBER Filed Feb. 12. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W W MAJ/WM M v gwuewhw N Brczlj March 8,1927. NBBRALY ,591

SCRUBBER Filed Feb. 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheen 2 gvwentoz alike: nu

Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

NORMAN B. BRALY, 0F IE'ASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA.

SGRUBBER.

Application filed February The present invention relates to cleaning orscrubbing apparatus, the primary object being to provide practicalmechanism that will e like.

A further object is to provide a brush or scrubber that will accommodateitself to the contour of the surface to be cleaned, making it peculiarlyeffective in corners, grooves, crevices and the like.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a view in elevation of oneembodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a View in elevation of the scrubber,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale throughthe head of the same,

Figure 4 is a similar view through the driving and liquid supply means,

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the nozzle carrier,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the nozzle, I

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the ball race washer, I 1

Figure 8 is an outline view of the preferred embodiment of the casing.

In Figure 1 there is shown "a kitchen sink 10, over which is supportedhorizontal tracks 11. On these tracks is a carriage or trolley 12, fromwhich is suspended a rotary hanger 13. The hanger 13 has swiveledthereon, as shown at 14, a depending bracket 15, and'this bracketcarries a vertically swinging frame 16, in which is.

mounted a suitable electric motor 17. The bracket includes a journal box18, in which is located a flexible shaft 19. -The shaft 19 is driven bythe motor through the medium of a belt 20 passing around suitablepulleys 21 on said motor and shaft.

A tubular handle is shown at 22'and may be yieldingly supported, as forexample, by a spring 23 connected to said handle and to the hanger 13.This handle, as shown more particularly in Figure 3, has a sp ndle 24 atone end, and on this spindle is ournaled a carrier comprising twoelements 25 and 26 threaded together and forming be tween them anexterior annular groove 27. The element 25 preferably has a sleeveportion 28 fitted into a groove 29 formed in l'ectively clean dishes andthe 42 threaded on the spindle.

12, 1926. Serial No. 87,329.

the adjacent end of the handle 22. The other element 26 preferably hason its outer end face a ball groove or race 30.

J ournaled in the handle 22 and extending through the spindle 24 is atubular shaft 31, which shaft has at its rear end a gear 32 in mesh witha gear 33 that has a driving connection 34 with the flexible shaft 19,already described. The gears 32 and 33 are preferably housed in a gearcasing 35. Thus the shaft 31 is rotated from the motor 17.

The outer end of the shaft 31 has a carrier member 36 keyed to it, thiscarrier member being in the form of a hood surrounding the outer freeend of the spindle 2:1, and having threaded into its rear enlarged end abushing 37 that is engaged in the groove 27 of the carrier member 25-26.Enclosed by the carrier member 36 is a ball race washer 38 slidablykeyed to the spindle 24, and having a groove 39 in opposition to thegroove 30. In these grooves are balls 40. A coiled spring 41 surrounding the spindle bears against the outer side of the washer 38 andagainst a holding nut, It will thus be evident that the carrier 25-26 isyield ingly forced rearwardly by the spring 41, and the outer flange ofthe carrier element 26 is thus brought into frictional engagement withthe inner end of the bushing 37.

The carrier member 36 has a holding collar 43 threaded thereon, andclamped between said holding collar and the carrier, is the flange 44 ofa nozzle or head 45 that extends beyond the carrier 36 and shaft 31 andencloses the open end of the latter. This nozzle or head 15 ispreferably of rubber or other flexible material, and isprovidcd with aset of radially disposed fiexible blades 16, its internal chamber 47being in communication with the bore of the shaft 31 and it is providednear its apex with a series of outlet ports 48. Enclosing the head,comprising the nozzle 45 and blades 46, is a flexible casing 49preferably of woven open mesh fabric, this casing fitting snugly overthe head and having at its rear end a split ring 50 that surrounds thecarrier element 25 and is held in place by a rubber or other flexiblering 51.

A flexible liquid supply tube is provided Willi a nipple extension 53that projects into the rear end of the tubular shaft 31. A suitablepacking gland 54 is provided to prevent leakage. This supply tube 52 mayreceive liquid from any suitable source. For example, in Figure 1 it isshown as having a coupling 55 connected to one of the faucets of thesink.

In using this device,.if the motor is set in operation and liquid isallowed to flow through the tube 52, under normal conditions, it will beevident that the complete scrubber head will be rotated, inasmuch as thenozzle with its flexible blades will be positively driven by the shaft'31 and the frictional engagement of the parts will also cause acorresponding rotation of the easing. At the same time water or othercleansing liquid will flow through the shaft 31 into the chamber 47, anddischarging through the ports 48, will find its way out through thecasing. The operator, grasping the handle 22, can move the scrubber overthe article to be cleaned, the flexible blades and fabric readilyconforming to the contour of the surface and the edges and cornersmoving into. the edges and corners of the article being diieaned. Whenmaterial. friction is applied-"the nozzle and blades continue theirrotation but the fabric will rotate at a slower rate of speed or maystop altogether, depending upon the pressure applied. It will be evidentthat durlug the forward pressure from the operator, when the scrubberhas been forced into corners and the like, the outer casing becomestwisted on the inner nozzle and blades. As the forward pressure isreleased by the operator, the straightening of the blades on the innerno'zzle causes a forward tension on the outer casing, disengaging theflange element 26 from the bushing 37. The flange element is now withoutdriving power and will slow its speed, straightening out the outercasing. The tension in the outer casing being relieved, the members 26and 37 will again be forced into frictional engagement by the spring 41.

With this construction, a cleaning and scouring can be quickly andcompletely effected, the device being useful either for domesticpurposes or on larger scale operations.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without dcparting from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

.Vhat I claim, is:

1. A rotary scrubber comprising a rot-an able hollow cleaner casing, anda rotatable relatively rotatable, 'l'rictionally engaged elements thatwill cause the casing and head to rotate together, and means that permitsaid elements to become frictionally disengaged to allow the casing andhead to relatively rotate.

4. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a spindle, of two carriermembers rotatable thereabout, a casing mounted on one carrier member,and a scrubber headwithin the casing that operates against the same,said head being mounted on the other carrier member.

In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a spindle, of two carriermembers r0 t'atable thereabout, a casing mounted on one carrier member,and a scrubber head within the casing that operates against the same,said head being mounted on the other carrier member, said members havingportions in frictional engagement to cause their rotation together andpermitting one to rotate with relation to the other when one meets withresistance to its rotation.

(5. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a spindle, of two carriermembers rotatable thereabout, a casing mounted on one carrier member, ascrubber head within the casing that operates against the same, saidhead being mounted on the other carrier member, said members havingportions in frictional engagement to cause their rotation together andpermitting one to rotate with relation to the other when one meets withresistance to its rotation, and a spring for maintaining such frictionalengagemcnt.

7. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a spindle, of a rotarycarrier thereon, a flexible casing mounted on the carrier, and a secondcarrier journaled on the first carrier and having a flexible scrubberhead within the flexible casing that operates on said casing.

S. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a spindle, of a rotarycarrier thereon on the second carrier, and a flexible hollow cleanercasing on the first carrier, said casing housing and bein engaged by thehead. 9. In a rotary scru her, the combination with a handle having'aspindle of a rotary carrier journaled on the spindle, a second vcarrierjournaled on the spindle, a second carrier journaled on, the firstcarrier, a flexible scrubber head mounted on one carrier, 3. flexiblehollow cleaner casing enclosing and engaged by the "head and mounted onthe other carrier, and a shaft extending through the handle andconnected to one of the carriers.

11. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a flexible casing, of arotary flexible scrubber head, and means for causing the head torotate'within and with respect to the casing.

12. In a'rotary scrubber, the combination with a flexible hollow cleanercasing, of a rotary flexible scrubber head having outstandingflexibleblades that operate within and against the casing.

13. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a flexible cleanercasing, of a rotary flexible scrubber head, comprising a forwardlytapered member, and outstandin flexible blades that operate within anagainst the casing.

14. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a flexible cleanercasing, of a rotary flexible scrubber head having outstanding flexibleblades that operate within the easing, and means for delivering fluidthrough the head.

15. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a flexible cleanercasing, of a rotary flexible scrubber: head, comprising a forwardlytapered member, outstanding flexible blades that operate within andagainst the casing, and. means for delivering fluid through the taperedmember and around the blades within the casing.

16. In a rotary scrubber, the combination with a handle, havin aspindle, of a tubular shaft journaled t erein, means for supplying fiuidto the shaft, relatively rotatable carriers journaled on the spindle, afabric cleaner casing mounted on one of the carriers, aforwardly taperednozzle mounted on the other carrier and receiving fluid from the shaft,flexible scrubber blades carried by the nozzle and operating in thefabric casing, and means forrotating the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

NORMAN B. BRALY.

